2015 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
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Tasting notes
Moving to the 2015s, the largest production cuvee from younger vines is the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon and it includes 3% Cabernet Franc and spent 18 months in 65% new French oak. Possessing terrific richness in its dark fruit, tobacco and Graves-like minerality, this beauty is full-bodied, concentrated and layered on the palate. It’s a beautiful base cuvee that does everything right. Located north of Saint Helena and pulling all from their estate vineyard located around the winery, owner Cam Baker and winemaker Dan Petroski have produced some true superstars in 2015. These are ripe, full-bodied, majestic, yet structured wines that are going to age beautifully. There’s been a distinct stylistic shift with the 2016s, which were harvested far in advance of when most were harvesting, and the wines are certainly still beautiful, yet more tannic, backward, and angular. They’ll be beautiful wines, but certainly in a different style than previous vintages.
Critic scores
Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Larkmead's deep garnet-purple colored 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon shows a meaty/earthy nose of charcuterie, underbrush, damp soil and mossy bark with a core of cassis, black plums and espresso. Concentrated and rich in the full-bodied mouth, the tannins are firm and chewy, and it finishes with great length and depth.
Larkmead's 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon is deep, inky and powerful, but with plenty of tannic backbone to back up the intensity of the fruit. There is plenty of potential here. This is a promising wine from Larkmead. Virtually all of the fruit for this wine was harvested in late August.